Columbia State Historic Park will present “Diggins Tent Town 1852” – its annual living history event from Thursday, May 19 through Sunday, May 22. Sponsored by Friends of Columbia and Columbia State Historic Park and depicted by over 150 costumed volunteers, visitors can experience the events and environment of an 1850’s mining camp that is re-created in detail from the clothing, food and entertainment. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, admission to Columbia “Diggins 1852” is $7 per adult and $2 per child 12 and under. There is no charge for parking and admission to the park. For more information contact Columbia Visitor Services at www.parks.ca.gov/Columbia or call (209) 588-9128.
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Enjoy the Gold Country Singers in an upcoming spring concert. Under the direction of Annette Hutton of Hutton’s Hamlet in Oakdale, singers will perform Scottish, Irish, and American folk tunes to tap your toes to and old favorites from a Broadway show or two. Plan to join in with the Gold Country Singers on Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 21 at 3 p.m. at the Coulterville United Methodist Church on Highway 49 in Coulterville. Potluck snacks provided immediately after the concerts. Both concerts are free. For more information, call 209-848-1216.
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Modesto Junior College will host the second New Student Day event for the year on Saturday, May 21 at 8 a.m. on East Campus, 435 College Ave., Modesto. Students will meet in the Auditorium of the Performing and Media Arts Center. Attendance and campus parking are free. New Student Day assists students who are just beginning the process of enrolling at MJC through application, orientation, assessment and advising workshops. Additional activities include hands-on assistance with the financial aid application, or follow-up steps, a parent information seminar and an opportunity to visit with MJC Faculty and learn of the many academic programs offered. For more information on New Student Day or enrolling at MJC call (209) 575-6789.
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The second in a series of three Writers’ Toolbox workshops will focus on short story writers, led by Jim Fox and Leslie Liberty, on Saturday, May 21 at the First Unitarian Church, 2737 Pacific Ave., Stockton. The event is free and open to the public. Moderator for the 6 p.m. event is Robert Reinarts, founder and coordinator of the Heritage Writers Community of Stockton. The series is sponsored by the Marion Jacobs Literary Forum, the Stockton Arts Foundation, Tuleburg Press, and the Heritage Writers’ Community. For more information, call 463-3390.
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Riverbank welcomes the REO Speechtrain Toastmasters Club for regular meetings every Wednesday morning, 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., at Perko’s Cafe, Patterson and Oakdale roads, Riverbank. This is a fun way to learn the self-confidence and skills needed for public speaking. All are invited to come and check out the group. The next meeting will be Wednesday, May 25. For more information, call (209) 614-8462.
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The Turlock Certified Farmers Market (TCFM) will now be held every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 29 in the Ag Pavilion located near the Hilmar Cheese entrance gate or the West Gate off of Soderquist Road at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock. Blackout dates include the two Saturdays of Fair, July 9 and 16. Guests will be able to enjoy fresh produce, local ingredients, and hand-made items. Parking will be made available on Soderquist Road, as well as inside the Fairgrounds.
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The St. James Concert Series presents Golden Bough Celtic Folk Trio, an ensemble of modern-day minstrels, in a program which will feature songs from their recordings, pieces from their upcoming CD, lively sing-alongs, ballads, and rousing instrumental pieces. Backing themselves with an array of acoustic instruments: Celtic harp, guitar, octave-mandolin, accordion, violin, penny-whistle and bodhran (the Celtic hand drum) Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza, and Kathy Sierra blend their voices in the pristine harmonies that have become a Golden Bough trademark. The concert is scheduled on Sunday, May 22 at 3 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, also known as ‘The Red Church’ at 42 Snell St., Sonora.
